IAC WRESTLING: TIOGA RETURNS FIVE STATE QUALIFIERS; COACH EXCITED ABOUT FRESHMAN CLASS (2021-02-16)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER - As the old saying goes, "The rich get richer."

Tioga, the two-time defending state champs and four-time defending Section IV champs, return a host of veteran wrestlers, including five state qualifers, and coach Kris Harrington is just giddy over his freshman class..

"I'm really excited about our freshman class. Not to diminish any of the other groups, but this may be the best freshmen group I've had, and that's saying something," said Harrington. "We have 24 kids, and 10 of them are freshmen."

The top of the class features a foursome who saw plenty of action last year.

"You start at the top with our returning state champ Gianni (Silvestri) and then Caden (Bellis) who medalled at States," noted Harrington. "People will be surprised to see them this year. They are bigger, they look the part.

"This is a good opportunity for Deakon (Bailey). He was under-sized last year, but he's the guy at 102 this year," he continued. "And, Levi (Bellis) was a part-time starter and our swing guy last year, he'll fit into the starting line-up at 110."

Harrington is also excited about several freshmen newcomers, including Athens transfer Tyler Roe, who is the son of former longtime Tioga coach Josh Roe.

"Trent Browne is an unknown up top, but I think he'll make an immediate impact this year.

"Tyler Roe is a nice addition. He's raw, but if you look at some of the results from the tournaments these boys did on their own, he's had a nice fall / winter season," said Harrington. "I think if we can tighten some things up, we'll really have something there.

"Drew Macumber will be our swing guy this year," continued Harrington. "We're feathering him in at 138 or 145. He doesn't have the experience of some of these guys, but in terms of his athletic ability, his drive, and his presence as an athlete ... his ability to compete in the room the way he does is very impressive for a kid that doesn't have the experience.

"Zac Kotzsuba and Hunter Feathers will add quality depth down low for us," noted Harrington.

"I think this is a great developmental year to get some of these freshmen as many matches as possible to help develop," he added. "We need to reign a couple of the guys into the way we wrestle, and then I think we could have something really special."

Returning state qualifiers from last year's starting line-up along with Silvestri and Caden Bellis, who placed fourth at States last year, are junior Emmett Wood, who was seventh, junior Mason Welch, who was eighth, and sophomore Donovan Smith, who was 1-2.

The Tigers also have several wrestlers returning that saw time in the starting line-up They are seniors Justin Hopkins, Cole Williams, Ethan Agan and Matt Miller, junior Josh Snell, and sophomores Emily Sindoni and John Woodcock. Sophomores Mason Ham and Bradley Guiles will also vie for time.

The Tigers only have two seniors. Both are second-year wrestlers, and both are in the starting line-up. Harrington says both exemplify one of the best things about the program.

"Cole Williams and Ethan Agan are our only seniors ... they came out last year for the first time, and they're back.

"Two of the marks of our program that I feel shows we're successful is: Are we putting kids into college to wrestle? Right now, we have three, and that's great," said Harrington.

"The other is: Are we getting guys to come out late, and then come back?" noted Harrington. "You're always going to have the Silvestris and Smiths, but you get an Ethan Agan to come out as a junior, he's in a tough weight class, then he comes back. Same thing with Cole (Williams) at heavyweight.

"I think that's the mark of a good program, and that we're doing something right," Harrington added.

Harrington expects the following starting line-up:

102: Deakon Bailey
108: Levi Bellis
118: Gianna Silvestri
126: Tyler Roe
132: Caden Bellis
138: Mason Welch
145: Donovan Smith
152: Justin Hopkins
160: Ethan Agan
172: Trent Browne
189: Emmitt Wood
215: Josh Snell
285: Cole Williams

"Our line-up has stretched itself out a little bit, and that's a nice thing," said Harrington. "We're not going to cut weight this year, I just don't see the point in it with just six duals and no postseason.

"We're just trying to get better as wrestlers and athletes, and I think we can do that with zero weight-cutting," he added.

With 24 grapplers on the roster, Harrington is hoping he can get everyone enough matches.

"There are no (Sectional) points this year, so my hope is other coaches have the same idea I do," he said. "We can wrestle the dual, and if we have time, let's get in as many matches as possible. My hope is we'll be able to match-up and get some extra matches in.

"Hopefully, we can get some extra matches in against Horseheads, Elmira, and Corning, but I'm not sure how that's going to work ... it's a Health Department thing.

"In our matches we have set up, let's get our best wrestlers wrestling each other," continued Harrington. "I look at our SVEC match and I'd like to see a Mason Welch-Osumane Duncanson match-up; that gets me excited. Up top, can we get a Cam Carrier or (Joey) Woodmansee, or (Josh) Duke (Newark Valley)"” Emmett Wood match; that would be cool.

"We'll get our matches in. I know a lot of our kids will be at the Journeyman tournament, there's a showcase event at State College that USA Wrestling is putting on, and obviously Virginia Beach.

It's a different mindset than we normally have," added Harrington.

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2021 SCHEDULE
Feb. 17 ... vs. WAVERLY, 6 p.m.
Feb. 19 ... at  OWEGO, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 22 ... at  O-M / WATKINS GLEN, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 ... vs. EDISON, 6 p.m.
Feb. 27 ... at  NEWARK VALLEY, 10 a.m.
March 3 ... vs. SVEC, 6 p.m.